In vain the captain shouted;
The craven crew have left him,
Of every boat bereft him:
Destruction is undoubted.

But, hark! a gun is pealing
Fast from that vessel's side;
One true heart is revealing
That Duty doth abide
O'er Death and all his host.
The boy stands loading, firing,
Unaided and untiring,

Nor thinks he of inquiring
If he may quit his post.

The ship sinks lower, lower,—
She's past her water-line;
The climbing surges throw her
Deeper within the brine.
Foam-wreaths her last plank crown!
But, as the wild waves won her,
There stood the youthful gunner,
One last peal sent from on her,—
Then with his gun went down!

Osborne.

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.

"WILL you walk into my parlor ?" said the spider to the fly;

""Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did

spy;

The way into the parlor is up a winding stair,

And I have many a curious thing to show when you are there!"

"O, no, no!" said the little fly; "to ask me is in vain,

For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.'

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"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high:

Will you rest upon my little bed ?" said the spider to the fly;

"There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin,

And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in."

"O, no, no!" said the little fly; "for I've often heard it said,

They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed."

Said the cunning spider to the fly, "Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?

I have, within my pantry, good store of all that's nice; I'm sure you're very welcome, will you please to take a slice ?"

"O, no, no!" said the little fly; "kind sir, that cannot be;

I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish

"Sweet creature," said the spider, "you're witty. and you're wise;

How handsome are your gaudy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf: If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,

And, bidding you good-morrow now, I'll call another day."

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again.

So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,

"Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple, there's a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead."

Alas! alas! how very soon this silly little fly, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by!

With buzzing wing; she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;

Thinking only of her crested head, poor foolish thing! At last

Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held

her fast.

He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,

Within his little parlor,-but she ne'er came out again!

And now, my dear young pupils, who may this story read,

To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed;

Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.

Mary Howitt.

A HINDOO'S PARADISE.

A HINDOO died,—a happy thing to do
When twenty years united to a shrew.
Released he hopefully for entrance cries
Before the gates of Brahma's paradise.
"Hast been through purgatory ?” Brahma said.

"I have been married,”—and he hung his head. "Come in, come in, and welcome, too, my son! Marriage and purgatory are as one."

In bliss extreme he entered heaven's door,
And knew the peace he ne'er had known before.

He scarce had entered in the garden fair,
Another Hindoo asked admission there.

The self-same question Brahma asked again;
"Hast been through purgatory ?"

then ?"

"No-what

"Thou canst not enter!" did the God reply.